Laboratory diagnosis of gonococcal infection. Modern aspects (literature review)

Gonococcal infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the world. According to WHO estimates, 86.9 million cases of gonococcal infection were reported worldwide among adults aged 15—49 years in 2016. The article is a literature review on current approaches to diagnosis of gonococcal infection. It was noted that currently priority in the diagnosis of gonococcal infection is given to the techniques of nucleic acid amplification, which have some important advantages compared to other methods (microscopy, culture, POC-tests), namely: high sensitivity and specificity, lack of need for a live pathogen, possibility of simultaneous identification of several pathogens in one sample of biomaterials and quantification of DNA/RNA pathogens (Real-time PCR) or bacterial load, as well as quickness of the result achievement (compared to culture technique). Microscopy method can be used for diagnosis of gonococcal infection in men with symptoms as well as (in other cases) for general assessment of swab morphology. Culture-based study (bacterial culture test) is preserved in the arsenal of methods of laboratory diagnosis of gonococcal infection; diagnosis of gonococcal infection in children, extragenital localization and asymptomatic course of the disease are the priority indications for its use.